Compressor.



J. T. LOVE. COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 22, 1909.

Patented July 19, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES 7/14 J. T. LOVE COMPRESSOR.

APPLIGATION FILED 111:0. 22, 1009.

964,987, Patented July 19, 1910.

3 BHEBTBBHEET 2. 7

WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS 00., WASHINGTON 1: c.

J. T.-LOVE.

' COMPRESSOR. v APPLIOATION FILED D30. 22 1909.

Patented July 19, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

3 INVENTUB W3 WITNESSES W? Amman JOHN T. LOVE,

OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H. FLINT AND JAMES W.CONWAY, BOTH OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

COMPRESSOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Application filed December 22, 1909. Serial No. 534,404.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. Love, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Charlotte, county of Mecklenburg, and State ofNorth Carolina, have invented an Improvement in Compressors, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention has reference to compressors, and consists of certainimprovements which are fully set forth in the following specificationand shown in the accompany ing drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effectiveconstruction of a compressor which may be employed for compressing airor gases for refrigerating apparatus, or for any other use to which itmay be found applicable.

My invention consists of certain features of construction which arefully described hereinafter, and more particularly defined in theclaims.

These improvements will be better understood by reference to thedrawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a compressor with part insection, embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line0c-a2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same on line g y ofFig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a plan View illustrating the application of myimproved compressor to a refrigerating apparatus.

2 is the heavy base of the machine, and is made of box-shapeconstruction with provision for supporting the housings 3 of twoseparate compressing devices, one at each end of the base or bed frame;and with an intermediate gap or well in which a flywheel 5 may revolve.The crank shaft 4: is supported in suitable bearings 6 carried upon thebed frame, on each side of the two cranks of the crank shaft 4, and inwhich the said crank shaft is journaled. As is customary, the cranks ofthe crank shaft are arranged at 180 degrees apart. The housings 3 extendupward and are provided with suitable guides 14: for the cross heads 13,said cross heads being connected with the cranks by means of connectingrods 15. The cross heads 13 are connected with piston rods 12, having attheir upper ends suitable pistons 11 working in the compressingcylinders 8. The housings are suitably formed of the open typeconstruction and so made as to provide shields to prevent the escape ofthe oil which may be thrown by the cranks and connecting rod. Suitablewells 7 may be provided through which the cranks and the connecting rodstravel during the rotation of the crank shaft, and by which they may beproperly lubricated. These parts of the apparatus, above described, maybe of any suitable practical form, such as employed in compressors orengines generally, and I do not limit or restrict myself in any respectthereto.

Referring now to the compressing mechanism proper arranged at the upperparts of the housing, it will suffice to describe this mechanism indetail with respect to one of the compressors, as both of thecompressors shown in Fig. 1 are similar in construction and mode ofoperation. The compressing cylinder 8 is bolted to the housing through alower head 9 which is provided with a stufling box 10 through which thepiston rod 12 reciprocates, and the lower part of the cylinder below thepiston, when in its lowermost position, is enlarged to form a chamber 16of considerable capacity, so that when the piston rises in the act ofcompressing the air or gas above it, the partial vacuum produced belowit may not be excessive.

WVhile I prefer to form this chamber 16 by enlarging the internaldiameter of the cylinder at the lower part, it may be formed v in anyother suitable manner so long as there is in communication with thecylinder below the piston a cubical capacity which would be greater thanthe normal clearance between the piston and the cylinder head. Thischamber 16 is designed to provide a closed space below the piston whichshall be air-tight and which shall not produce, under normal operationof the compressor, any excessive resistance due to either compression orpartial vacuum, but which, in case of leakage of the compressed air orgas around the piston from the compression end thereof into the saidchamber 16, will hold the said air or gas and permit it to be, byaccumulation of such leakage and action of the piston, increased inpressure sufficient to cause it to be ejected through a pipe 55 openingthrough the lower cylinder head and provided with a check valve 54 whichwill permit the outflow of the said air or gas, but prevent any inflowinto the said chamber 16.

' between the bottom of the The upper end of the cylinder 8 is providedwith a cylinder head 17 containing the inlet valve 22 and the outletvalve 24, said cylinder head being clamped firmly upon the top of thecylinder by means of a cast iron ring 18 having an inwardly directedflange 19 extending over the cylinder head and clamped down upon thecylinder by means of cap screws 20. The cylinder head 17 is preferablymade of wrought steel, whereas, the ring 18 with its flange 19 is madeof cast iron, so that if, from any reason, an excessive pressure wascaused to exist within the cylinder, breakage would occur on this flangel9, and thereby relieve the pressure without destroying or injuring themore costly parts of the mechanism. Thls ring 18, being of exceedinglysimple construction, may be easily replaced in case of breakage, andbeing only a clamp, I great nicety in the fitting of the cylinder is notespecially essential.

The cylinder head 17 carries the inlet and the outlet valves. It isbored and tapped to receive the valve chambers 25 and 35 respectivelyfor the inlet valve 22 and the outlet valve 24. The bored part of thecylinder head below the valve chamber 25 is provided with a downwardlydirected valve seat 21 upon which the valve 22 seats itself, and saidcylinder head is further provided with an upwardly directed valve seat23 below the valve chamber 35, which supports and guides the outletvalve 24.

Referring more specifically to the inlet valve 22 and its connections, Iprovide the valve chamber 25 at the bottom with a flanged sleeve 26,through which flange are a series of apertures 27, the perimeter of saidflange being clamped firmly in position valve chamber 25 and a seatformed in the cylinder head 17. The sleeve 26 forms a guide for thevalve stem 28. Arranged within the valve chamber and secured upon thevalve stem 28, is a collar 32, and between this collar and the flange ofthe sleeve 26, is arranged a coil spring whose function is to raise thevalve 22 and hold it normally upon its seat 21. The valve chamber 2-5 isprovided with tubular passages 30 in its upper part, and these open intothe interior of the sleeve 31 which is screwed upon the top. of thevalve chamber, and said sleeve is screw-threaded at its upper end toprovide a connection of the piping through which the air or gas tov becompressed may be delivered to the compressor. The upper end of thevalve stem 28 extends through the top of the valve chamber 25 and. isguided therein, and is also provided with a second collar 34 secured toit, and which will prevent the valve 22 dropping into the cylindershould the collar 32 from any cause become disconnected with re specttov its position upon the valve stem 28.

All of the parts in the make-up of this valve device are preferablyformed of steel. The discharge valve structure is somewhat more simplethan the inlet valve mechanism. As will be seen the valve stem 38 isreduced at its upper part to form a shoulder, and the upper part isguided through the top of the chamber 35 so as to guide the valve 24with respect to its seat 23. The shoulder on the valve stem 38,contacting with the under part of the top of the valve chamber, willlimit the upward movement of the valve in opening. Discharge ports 36open through the top of the valve casing and communicate with theinterior of a sleeve 37 screwed or otherwise secured upon the top of thevalve casing, and screw-threaded at the upper end for connection withthe piping through which the compressed air or gas is to be forced. Theparts comprising the discharge valve mechanism are also preferablyformed of steel.

Surrounding the cylinder 8 is a water jacket 39, the same being flangedat the bot tom and clamped in position by the same bolts which clampthecylinder and the lower cylinder head 9 to the housings. The upper end ofthe water 'acket 39 is provided with a cap or bonnet 40 which extendsover the cylinder head and is provided wit-h two apertures at the topthrough which the valve chambers 25 and 35 extend, and these aperturesin their connection with the said valve chambers may be made water tightby suitable stufling boxes 42.

The water jacket 39 and its cap 40 provides an annular water space 41around the cylinder and its head and valves, and over the latter, andthereby keeps them cool dur ing the operation of the compressor. Wateris continually supplied to the space 41 through the water jacket by thepipe 43 at its bottom, and the surplus water may be allowed to escapefrom the top of the cap through the pipe connection 44 which may lead toany convenient point of discharge.

During the ordinary operation of the compressor, the air or gas is drawnthrough the sleeve 31, ports 30, the valve chamber 25, ports 27, andbetween the valve seat and valve 22 into the cylinder. When compressed,by the rising of the piston, the air or gas is driven outward betweenthe valve seat 23 and valve 24, through the valve casing 25, through theports 36 and sleeve 37 into the pipe in communication therewith.

Should the strain within the compressor be such as to rupture the flange19 of the ring 18, as hereinbefore explained, it is evident that theammonia or other gas which is being compressed within the cylinder 8would escape into the water chamber instead of into the room, because ofthe fact that the cylinder and head is inelosed within the water jacketand cap or bonnet. As a result of this, the ammonia or other gas thusescaping is conveyed away with the water through the pipe 44 to a placeoutside of the building where it may escape to the atmosphere. In thisway, the usual danger to the workmen by the escape of ammonia within thebuilding in case of breakage is entirely obviated. This is a veryimportant advantage of my improvements.

Referring now to Fig. 4:, which, for illustration, shows my improvedcompressor employed in connection with a refrigerating apparatus, thecompressed gas, (which may be ammonia) is forced through the sleeves 37into the high pressure pipes 45 which deliver through an oil strainer 46into the cooling coils in a tank 47 kept cool by water, and in which thecompressed gas is liquefied. The liquefied gas then flows into areceiver 49. From the receiver 1 9 the liquefied gas is permitted toescape under controlled regulation through cooling coils contained inthe tank 51, and the expanded gas after performing the cooling actiondesired, is delivered by low pressure receiving pipes 52 and 53 into thesleeves 31 connecting with the inlet valves of the compressors. When theapparatus is employed in this connection, the pipes 55 leading from thebottom of the compressing cylinders are connectedby a pipe 55 with thereceiving pipe 52, so that such escaping gas as may find its way fromabove the piston to below the same may be normally returned into thereceiving pipes and again put into the circulation. A check valve 56 maybe employed in the pipe 55 if so desired. This same arrangement forreturning the escaping gas into the receiving pipes of the compressorsmay be em ployed in connection with any other gas or with air, and wouldbe wholly irrespective of the particular use or application of thecompressor in commercial practice.

In illustrating the application of my improved compressor forrefrigeration or cooling, 1 have simply illustrated a typical form ofrefrigerating apparatus to indicate the receiving pipe and theconnection of the discharge pipes 55 from the cylinders there with.

My improved compressor may be employed in connection with any suitablesteam engine for rotating the crank shaft, but the latter may be rotatedby belt, gearing or other means, as found convenient, whether driven bysteam, electricity, hydraulic or other power, it being immaterial to myinvention how the compressor is driven. It is furthermore evident that,while I have shown my invention in connection with a duplex machine, theimprovements are equally applicable to a single cylinder compressor, andI therefore do not restrict my-. self to a duplex machine.

I have shown my invention in the form Which I have found excellentlyadapted for commercial application thereof, but I do not limit myself tothe details shown, as these may be modified without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a cylinder headfitting the top of the cyclinder and provided with the valves, aclamping ring having a connection of relatively weak resistance forholding the cyl inder head in position, and means for attaching theclamping ring firmly to the cylinder.

2. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a cylinder headfitting the top of the cylinder and provided with the valves, a clampingring having a connection of relatively weak resistance for holding thecylinder head in position, means for attaching the clamping ring firmlyto the cylinder, inlet and outlet port extensions opening from thecylinder head, and a Water jacket surrounding the cylinder and having abonnet extending over the cylinder head.

3. Ina compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a cylinder headfitting the top of the cylinder and provided with the valves, a clampingring having a connection of relatively weak resistance for holding thecylinder head in position, means for attaching the clamping ring firmlyto the cylinder, inlet and outlet port extensions opening from thecylinder head, a water jacket surrounding the cylinder and having adetachable bonnet extending over the cylinder head, and stuning boxescarried by the bonnet between it and the inlet and outlet portextensions.

4. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a head thereforhaving an inlet port, a valve for said port, and clamping meanssurrounding said head rigidly secured to the cylinder and having arelatively weak portion extending inwardly over the cylinder head forclamping it to the cylinder whereby the cylinder head may not be injured in case of abnormal rupturing pressure being produced in thecylinder.

5. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a head thereforhaving an outlet port, a valve for said port, and annular clamping meansrigidly secured to the cylinder and having a relatively weak portionextending inwardly over the cylinder head for clamping it to thecylinder whereby the cylinder head may not be injured in case ofabnormal rupturing pressure being produced in the cylinder. I

6. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a steel cylinderhead therefor, a clamping ring of cast iron fitting about the head andhaving an inwardly extending annular flange of relatively weak strengthextending over the head for clamping it to the cylinder, and means ofgreater strength than the annular flange for securing the clamping ringto the cylinder.

In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a steel cylinder headtherefor, a clamping ring of cast iron fitting about the head and havingan inwardly arrlnged flange extending over the head for clamping it tothe cylinder, means for securing the ring to the cylinder, and valvedevices carried by the head.

8. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a head thereforhaving valve devices, means for clamping the head to the cylinder ofrelatively weak structure at its clamping position so as to rupturebefore injury to the head and valve devices in case of abnormalpressure, and bolts of relatively great strength for rigidly securingthe clamping means to the cylinder.

'9. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, with a cylinderhead having a valve seat, a valve for the seat having a stem, a flangedsleeve for guiding the valve stem, and having ports through its lflange,a valve chamber fitted into the head and clamping the flanged sleeve inposition and also having a perforated top through which the valve stemextends, a collar secured to the valve stem, and a coil spring betweenthe collar and flange of the sleeve, and an inlet from above theperforated top of the valve chamber wl ereby the valve is between thevalve seat and inlet and the axis of the valve is in alinement with theflow of the air or gases between the inlet and seat.

10. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, with a cylinderhead having a valve seat, a valve for the seat having a stem, a flangedsleeve for guiding the valve stem and having -orts through its flange, avalve chamber fltted into the head and clamping the flanged sleeve inposition and also having a perforated top through which the valve stemextends, a collar secured to the valve stem, a coil spring between thecollar and flange of the sleeve, and a second collar secured to thevalve stem at a distance beyond the outer surface of the top of thevalve chamber.

11. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a head thereforhaving valve devices, means for clamping the head to the cylinder ofrelatively weak structure so as to rupture before injury to the head andvalve devices in case of abnormal pressure, a water jacket surroundingthe cylinder and having a bonnet extending over the cylinder head, andan outlet pipe from the water jacket to carry of]? the water and anyescaping gases in case :of rupture of the clamping means.

12. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, valve devicestherefor, means for holding the valve devices to the cylinder in suchrelatively weak form as to insure rupture before injury to the valvedevices themselves in case of abnormal pressure, a water jacketsurrounding the cylinder and extending over and inclosing the valvedevices and the means for securing them in position, and an'outlet pipeto carry off the water and any escaping gases in the case of rupture ofthe means for securing the valve devices to the cylinder.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

JOHN T. LOVE. l Vitnesses CHAS. I H. ONEILL, CHAS. L. Loonn'rr.

